Editorial: Shooting for air-gun licences is on target

Plans to make it compulsory for people with high-powered air guns to hold licences as with other types of guns is a sensible move, but is not planned as a panacea – nor should it.

Pneumatic-powered guns are intended to be used for target practice. Unfortunately though, they can be – and are – used as weapons against people, as was the case with slain police officer Sergeant Don Wilkinson in 2008.

Police Minister Judith Collins wants tighter regulations around these types of guns after describing them as a "weapon of choice" for some criminals because they didn't need to be licensed to use them.

Opponents of the rule change say it targets the wrong people. They say legitimate gun enthusiasts will be punished when the new licence is introduced, and that criminals aren't the kind of people to bother with gun licences in the first place.

There is some legitimacy to that claim, but if that logic was followed you could say there is no point in having to have gun licences at all. If that was the case, hunters and duck shooters would argue they never committed crimes with guns so they should be exempt from any licensing requirements.

Bringing in a licence isn't just about defining who is a legitimate user of a gun and who isn't. It's also a way of keeping track of who owns what, where it was bought, and what kind of weapon it was.

Most gun owners are responsible users. Most already have gun licences. So, how exactly does having to get a licence unfairly pick on that group?

Sure, there is a fee to pay on an administrative level, but in comparison to the horrific cost that could be racked up, it seems rather minimal.

The aim of the change is to strike a balance. That is to not overly inconvenience those who intend to use certain air guns properly, while making it that little bit more difficult for criminals to get their hands on and trade the weapons.

The licensing change is only one of a number of moves to improve gun safety that are being pushed – others involve tightening rules around online sales.

Any rule that has such good intentions and at minimal cost should be applauded.

The pre-season is over, so let's bring on the main course. The Manawatu Turbos' 2010 season proper starts on Saturday with a home game against Ranfurly Shield holders Southland (although the shield isn't on the line, sadly).

Last season was all about survival as the wider Manawatu community played its part in the successful Save The Turbos campaign. This year, it's proving to the rest of the country we belong there. There are 13 tough games for the Turbos, ending with an away match against Otago on October 23.

But it starts on Saturday, and the team needs every point and all the support it can get.

- © Fairfax NZ News